Flitting device



E. J. DOBERSTEIN Oct. 4, 1927.

FLITTING DEVICE1 Filed Dec. 25. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 w @wv S mm utili-k EEE-Enc:

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E. J. DOBERSTEIN FLITTING DEVICE Oct. 4,

E,. J. DOBERSTEIN FLITTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.

Patented Qct, 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,644,241. PATENTOFFICE.

EDV-"JARD J. DOBERS'IEIN, OF BLUE ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNGR 'IO GOODMAN MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORIORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

FLITTING DEVICE.

Application filed December 25, 1926. Serial No. 157,001.

system of mining and comprises avdetach-y able auxiliary draft or power device for transporting the mining machine over the mine bottom from cutting place to cutting place. The auxiliary draft device is provided with a detachable power connection from t-he mining machine. The'operation of transporting a mining machine as described intermediate the cutting places is generally known as flitting. The mining machine and the auxiliary draft device may be carried bodily upon a wheeled mining vmachine truck, which is provided with detachable power connections to the auxiliary draft device, whereby the entire apparatus may be readily transported from room to room along mine tracks in the usual inanner. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from time to time in the course of the following description.

The Vinvention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form in whichpmy invention may be embodied, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the cutting apparatus including a cutting mechanism of the shortwall type, connected to the auxiliary draft device, as embodied in my invention, both being carried upon a mining machine truck;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the auxiliary power device having parts broken away and part in section, to show the drive connections from the motor of the cutting mechanism g Figure l4C is a transverse section through 'l the auxiliary" power device taken on line lil-4 c 1g and Fi e diagrammatic view llns;

trating a typical method in which my apparatus may be utilized in a room and pillar system `of mining, showing the various position's of the parts of the apparatus while suinping and making the transverse cut.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a cutting mechanism of the shortwall type is rindicated at 10, being carried'and supported upon a wheeled truck 11 of the usual type and construction. The cutting mechanism 10V is provided with an underframe 12, upon which said cut-ting mechanism fis mounted for sliding movement overy the mine bottom. Said cuttingl mechanism is provided vwith the usual cutting element, comprising a longitudinally extending cutter bar 13, having an endless cutter chain 14 notshown) mounted thereon. The cutting' mechanism is sumped and fed across the working face by means of flexible draft A ropes 15 and 16, actuated by their respective rope drums'lr' and 18. Either of the drums for the flexible feeding mechanism may be selectively driven from a motor 19, as desired. Both the cutting and iiexiblefeeding mechanism are driven through suitable gearing from said motor. The operating mechanism for the cutting element and the iiexible draft feeding means need not be herein described'as it forms no part of the present invention, excepting to point out that an auxiliary draft device 20 has de tachable power connections withk said motor.

The auxiliary draft device is composed of sliding shoe or skid 25 having longitudinally extending channels 26, 26, disposed at the lateral edges thereof, said flanges being directed toward each other. The forward end 'of the Lipper flanges of said channels are cut away so as to permit the tongue extensions or channels 27, 27 to be secured tov the web portion of said firstmentioned chnn nel. Said auxiliary draft device is detachably connectible with the under frame 12 yof the cutting mechanism as will now be described.

The underframeof the cutting mechanisin is composed of a pair of transversely spaced channel members 28, 28, extending along the lateral edges of said cutting mechanism. The channels have the flanges turned inwardly toward each other and are connected together by a Shoe or baser late secured Yto the wer flanges: 'iiide i;s so, attached m its inner sur:

faces cf said flanges adjacent the rear end thereof, adording sliding and guiding engagement therein of said tongue extensions 27, "27, of the auxiliary draft device. This arrangement is such as will positively align the respective shoes or base plates of the cutting mechanism and auxiliary draft device, thereby providing a continuous shoe or sliding surface for conjoint'ly sliding the cutting mechanism and auxiliary draft device universally over mine bottoms.

Coupling devices for the auxiliary draft device and cutting mechanism are provided at each side and include bracket members 3.5, 35 pivotally mounted on the outside of rthe 'web portion at the forward ends of the channels 26, 26, ofthe auxiliary draft device. Said brackets are adapted to be detachably connected to brackets 36, 36, which are secured on the outside yof the channels 28, 28, by means of screw members 37, 3T. This coupling connection remains in engagement when the cutting mechanism is to be l-itted from place to place, but is disengaged during sumping or other cutting operations.

The draft mechanism of the auxiliary draft device may be driven from the motor lof the cutting mechanism in any suitable manner. As herein illustrated in Figure 8, said draft mechanism includes a gear reduction unit, such as worn gearing, for driving a vertically disposed sha-ft l() which has bearing support in an arm or bracket extending from the worm gear housing, and the lower end of said shaft having bearing support in the shoe or skid plate 25. A winding drum il is mounted on said shaft and is preferably of relatively large capacit-yso as to carry a cable 42 of a much greater length than that usually carried by the flexible feeding mechanisms of the mining machine. The gearing connections of saiddriving mechanism are such as will permit the winding drum to wind on or pay off the cable at a relatively high rate of speed, whereby the cutting mechanism, together with the auxiliary draft device may be moved over mine bottoms greater distances and at a higher rate of speed than is possible by the use of the flexible feeding mechanisms of the mining machine. Y

Guide devices for the cable l2 are provided on both the auxiliary draft device and the cutting mechanism for training said cable in either a forwardly or rearwardly direction. Said guide devices include a sheave 45 disposed in the forward end of the shoe or base plate 25 adjacentthe channel 26 for receiving the cable 42 from the winding drum lll. Said cable is then trained forwardly over the swivel guide sheave 46 mounted on a pivot arm support which is attached to the forward corner of the cutting mechanism, thence over the head guide sheave 47 which is mounted on a U bracket .from the truck as a unit.

The mining machine truck 1l is adapted to transport the cutting mechanismand the auxiliary draft device bodily from place 'to place over mine tracks. Said vtruck is pro-V vided with a detachable driving connection through the auxiliary draft device tothe motor of the cutting mechanism. This driving connection is similarto the'usual drive of the truck from-v the cutting mechanism and details thereof need not be herein described..

The use and operation of my device is as follows:

The main entries of mines vare usually provided with tracks 55, over which trucks carrying cutting mechanisms may .be readily transported, but in many instances it is de-V sirable to transport the cutting mechanism beyond the end of the tracks, as for example in mine rooms where it is not considered practical or economical to extend temporary tracks up to the working face as indicated at 56. Furthermore, the low coal seams or in sufficient head room often prohibits the transporting of cutting mechanisms von trucks, in such mine rooms, in' which case an auxiliary flitting device as herein described would permit the cutting mechanism to be drawn to and from the working face at a relatively high rate of speed.

The cutting mechanism and the auxiliary draft device are loaded or unloaded bodily The cable 4:2 of the auxiliary draft device is trained over the guide sheaves and anchored adjacent the face. Power is then applied to said cable whereby the machine is drawn forwardly. Adjacent the face the cutting device is disconnected from the auxiliary draft device, and makes a cut in the face in the usual manner. The complete mechanism is flitted rearwardly in the same manner as forwardly except that the cable is trained in a rearwardly direction.

A horizontally disposed winding drum of large diameter as embodied herein, permits a relatively high rate of litting speed or cable speed as well asa greaterl cable capacity. Further, the arrangement is such as will eliminate the necessity for a spooler guide for directing cable on and off the drum.

The driving mechanisml withv the horizontal winding drum aord a compact arrangement lUO whereby the complete auxiliary draft device may be disposed in closer relation relative to the cutting mechanism, thereby reducing the overall length of the complete unit, and making it easier to maneuver the complete unit about the mine.

Although I have shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, excepting as it may be limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In combination with a cutting mechanism having a flexible draft feeding means and a motor for operating the same, an underframe for supporting said cutting mechanism for movement over mine bottoms, an auxiliary draft feeding device mounted on a shoe detachably connectible with the rear end of said cutting mechanism and adapted to be conjointly moved there-with over mine bottoms, said auxiliary draft feeding device including a winding 4drum disposed on a vertical axis and operatively connected with said motor for driving said feeding device at a greater rate of speed than said feeding means. y

2. In combination with a cutting mechanism having a flexible draft feeding drum and a motor for operating the same, an auxiliary draft feeding device comprising a winding drum disposed on a vertical axis and of greater capacity than said feeding drum, said auxiliary draft feeding device being detachably connectible to the rear end of said cutting mechanism, and detachable gearing connections between said motor and said winding drums. l

3. In combination with a cutting mechanism having flexible draft feeding means and a motor for driving the same, an auxiliary draft feeding device comprising a vertically disposed shaft having a Winding drum mounted thereon having a. rope capacity greater than said feeding means,.said auxiliary draft feeding device being detachably connectible to the rear end of said cutting mechanism Within the vertical limits thereof and forming therewith a continuous sliding shoe for movement over mine bottoms. n

4. In combination with a cutting mechanism having a flexible draft feeding means and a motor for operating the same, an auxiliary flexible draft device comprising speed reducing gearing operably connectible to said cutting mechanism, and a Winding drum disposed on a vertical axis intermediate said gearing and said cutting mechanism, said draft device being detachably connectible to the rear end of said cutting mechanism.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 23rd day of December, A. D. 1926.

EDW'ARD J. DOBERSTEIN. 

